Sumner, Buckfield split on station funding

SUMNER — At a joint session February 22, the Buckfield and Sumner Boards of Selectmen decided against instituting a $10 annual fee on citizens who use the transfer station.

Buckfield Town Manager Glen Holmes proposed the fee as a means to raise $12,000 for the transfer station without raising taxes.

Sumner's selectmen immediately took up a stance against the fee, with Mark Silber being its most vocal opponent.

Silber said that he agrees that the transfer station is an important service that the town provides, and that raising the money in some way is important. However, he objected to the fee on the grounds that it only affects permanent residents who use the transfer station.

"We put the burden on the people in town. The residents bear the burden and not the people from out of town," said Silber.

He suggested that, instead, the money be raised through property taxes. That way, some of the money for the transfer station could come from landowners who do not reside in Sumner for most of the year, or commercial land owners who do not use the station.

"If it's hidden in taxes and some of it's paid by the cell phone tower, our town would have to raise about $4500. With 490 households, that's about $10 per household but it is also diluted by commercial landowners," said Silber. "It's more progressive, because it doesn't hit only the people who live here."

Silber said that the $10 fee was simply another tax carrying a different name. He compared the fee to airlines who charge for a ticket up front, but then ask commuters to pay for checked bags, bottled water and peanuts after arriving at the airport and boarding the plane.

Silber submitted a motion, which was seconded by Sumner Chair Mary Ann Haxton, that the town raise the money through taxes alone. The motion passed 4-2 with the Sumner board and Buckfield Selectwoman Eileen Hotham voting in favor, while Buckfield Chair John Lowell and Selectman Robin Buswell dissented.

"I see what you're saying about large landowners who don't use [the transfer station]," said Lowell. "But the other side is to say, 'wait a second, I shouldn't contribute, why don't the folks who drive in contribute to it.'"

Lowell said that the town government has been asked to make sacrifices with the budget and taxes already. He said that asking citizens to directly contribute to services they already use is perfectly reasonable.

"Given the climate right now of holding the line as best we can, there are some things I'm perfectly fine with asking back," said Lowell.